Jim Santos, retired from the computer / network support business, and now a fulltime freelance writer and blogger. I’m the Ecuador Coastal Correspondent for International Living, and recently had an article published in the Wall Street Journal. more ...

My name is Leigh Anderson. I’m a freelance writer from Canada and I love the opportunities my work affords me to constantly meet new people and live in new places. Through my work, both professionally and on a voluntary basis I’ve been able to spend several years living abroad, first in South America and then in South East Asia. Although there are unique challenges that come with being an expat in a foreign culture, the life experience gained far outweighs any costs. Most importantly, I’ve made life-long friendships with people I would never have met had I passed up the opportunity to move to a new place.

Excited by adventure and discovery, fascinated by science, mildly obsessed with lizards, attracted by new places and weird food, interested in new people but quiet until I get to know someone, that’s the nutshell. More factually, my name is Maureen (totally unpronounceable in any language except English) Stimola, and I am 23 years old.

My Long Island parents moved to Vermont and raised me snowboarding and gardening, so I learned to love all things green and natural from a young age. I decided to combine my passion for nature and science, and graduated from Columbia University in 2012 after studying Environmental Biology for 4 years, and spending most of my free time in forests, museums, and laboratories. more ...

My name is Gary Kesinger. I worked as a middle school teacher for nearly 20 years, traveling internationally nearly every summer. After tiring of the stress of modern life, my wife and I decided to start a new life in South America.

I had been interested in the idea of breaking away from the rat race and retiring early for several years. After much research and discussion, we made an exploratory trip to Cotacachi, Ecuador during a week long break from school in 2008. We immediately fell in love with the idea of spending our days in this beautiful mountain town. Within a few days, we had purchased an apartment and made plans to move at the end of the school year. more ...